Hdd Samsung hd753lj Dead

[just_dragos]

Hy! Today my Hdd jus died and after some research on internet i found out that the pcb board is dead and if i buy another hdd (some model and firmware) and replace the pcb board i can repair myhdd and then coppy my data on a portable hdd. The problem is i dont' know what firmware my hdd is.
Here is some photo with my hdd:
http://imageshack.us/a/img11/4564/sgt7.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img546/9128/b56e.jpg
Could somebody please tell me how to find out the firmware of my hdd or where could i buy a hdd exaclty like mine ?

[Vulcan]

Assuming that the 8 leg chip is a ROM chip

FYI, it isn't.

[fzabkar]

As Vulcan has already said, the 8-pin chip is not an EEPROM. Instead it is associated with the -5V supply for the preamp.

STJ009, 30V, 5A, P-channel Trench MOSFET, AUK Corp:
http://www.lintry.com.cn/spec/17/STJ009.pdf
http://www.datasheetarchive.com/pdf-dat ... -24387.pdf

[just_dragos]

The reason i think the cpb is dead, it's beceause the hdd doesn't spin, it doesn't make any noise, so it doesn't get any power.
On the 8 leg chip it' writen "STJ009 727J"

[Keatah]

It's a mosfet, not a rom.

[fzabkar]

Check the TVS diodes and "fuse":
http://www.users.on.net/~fzabkar/HDD/HD103SJ_TVS_2.jpg

See http://www.users.on.net/~fzabkar/HDD/TVS_diode_FAQ.html

Then measure the voltages in the following thread (similar board):
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=18640&p=12525

[BlackST]

No ROM on this PCB.
Only realistic DIY option (every other attempt to repair the PCB in a DIY and limited knowledge scenario - unless there is a very simple failure - ends with nothing) : find a PCB that work if and only if everything else is OK : luck is required
P.S. 5-6 times out of 10, MCU gets dead with everything on it. This is not a problem in lab, it is a big problem for DIY.

[just_dragos]

I want to replace the whole pcb board, but the problem is i don't find any pcb board like mine, i don't have the knowledge to repair it.
And also with the firmware is a problem because if i found a pcb which looks exaclty like mine, it doesn mine that ot has the same firmware. Am i right?

[fzabkar]

A multimeter costs $5. Learning how to use it costs 5 minutes of your time. Read my FAQ.

[HaQue]

You are fairly correct yes. In easy terms as I understand it, Your possibly dead PCB holds unique information is used to correctly run the drive such as lists of bad/remapped sectors and data used to fine tune the mechanics to accurately work. I guess you can call these modules the "firmware". A new PCB won't have this information and the drive will most probably not work. Sometimes you can swap a PCB, then take your ROM chip from the old board and transplant it, but looks like this isn't an option here.

Did you try what fzabkar suggested? It would be a better starting point. Otherwise a DR lab would be an ideal next step.

Sorry mate.

[BlackST]

To cut a long story short with a not so short explanation, in the vain hope it is sufficient :

1) If the PCB is dead because MCU or some important part is dead there's nothing you can do . You can find a SIMILAR pcb but it must be exactly identical to the one you have and you can't determine it as the PCB is dead. An all this assuming there is no other damage ont he other part of the HDD.

2) You can tinker with a multimeter , a spectrophotometer or whatever you want BUT if the damage is not a simple thing , i.e. a bad chip OR the problem turns out to be the MCU, again there's nothing you can do. You need spare parts that are not readily available in case of a motor controller chip , less than less if it is the MCU, AND soldering equipment and skill is required.
Not all the repair shops can handle these boards as there are some peculiarities and it won't be "gratis" for sure. The myth of TV/AV shops that change a SMD BGA or QFP chip for few dollars doesn't seem to work in Western EU.

3) Sooner or later some advice for some PCB seller can pop up, and then there's another thing called "ADAPTATION SERVICE" : as a straight PCB swap won't work, it is necessary to send YOUR drive WITH YOUR DATA to the seller that will use dedicated tools to adapt firmware on PCB and drive.
You have to send the complete drive at your own risk and expenses where the seller is, i.e. USA, China or somewhere else. The drive can be damaged during shipping OR turns out that there is something else, then you have your drive (and data) thousands miles away and additional work is needed at extra cost.
When everything will come back, you'll have to pay taxes if it was outside EU, expect about 25%+ on total amount of the invoice or declared value. No exceptions.Think about it as it seems that too often things are made too simple.
Also note that unless you have a separate insurance, usually couriers DO NOT insure media or electronic memories , disks or everything that contains data : if it is lost, it is covered only by NTLL and/or normal insurance, "tot" x kg ,so let's say you loose a HDD with all data in and the insurance pays 10 EUR x KG. , total weight = 2 kg , you get a juicy 20 EUR refund, not a eurocent more.
Maybe I do worry too much but better safe than sorry / better to be afraid than cry later.
You can argue that only 1 out of 100'000 shipments do get damaged or lost, but if that 1 is yours, it is 100%

4) The only realistic DIY option that involves luck is to find a PCB that works and assume there is no other problem around. Otherwise you need specialized tools and know what to do. Unless someone will borrow them to you and guide you throughout the entire process , but I really doubt it.

5) To say it clearly, if you really want you can do some tinkering assuming all risks, if it goes OK then it is OK, otherwise you have to seek professional help. OR, if you can't afford it, either find another solution or wait or live without data.

Period.

[just_dragos]

fzabkar i checked the 2 diodes and the resistor and they are fine.
I measuered one time py touching the both end of every diode and i got -5and +5 an -12 and +12 and 1 time by touching 1 end of the diode and 1 screw from the pcb and i got 12 and 0 and on the other diode 5 and 0.
Exact the same thing it's shows me on a hdd that it's working.

[just_dragos]

Today i was at a computer service and aked how much would cost me to repair my hdd or to recover the data.
They send they don't want to try and repare it, to dificult...
And to revcover data it cost 300 euro.
So i'm screwed (.

[BlackST]

300 EUR is a fair price if they are sure and most of all they know what they are doing

[Keatah]

To their credit they said it was too hard for them themselves. So it sounds like they are going to outsource it to a data recovery company.

[BlackST]

It is still a fair price, to me , regardless of who actually does the job .

[just_dragos]

Yes it is a fair price, but i am a student and i don't have the money and i don't know how many gb data they will recover, i had 600 gb of data on the hdd.
And i think for 600 gb of data it will cost me a fortune,..

[BlackST]

Yes it is a fair price, but i am a student and i don't have the money and i don't know how many gb data they will recover, i had 600 gb of data on the hdd.
And i think for 600 gb of data it will cost me a fortune,..

Option #1 : live without data and carry on
Option #2 : wait for better times and save money meanwhile
Option #3 : rebuild data i.e. rewrite documents etc.